Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6726

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Editorial .
Putting a stop to medical inducements
Age Newspaper ( Melbourne) 2006 Dec 5
http://www.theage.com.au/news/editorial/putting-a-stop-to-medical-inducements/2006/12/04/1165080876685.html

Full text:

Putting a stop to medical inducements

December 5, 2006

LAST week the drug company CSL Limited agreed to reduce by 25 per cent
the price of Gardasil, the cervical cancer vaccine to be used in the
Federal Government’s vaccination program for young girls. While this may
seem a major victory for the Government, CSL’s decision should be
assessed in light of evidence that one-third of the budget for producing
a drug is spent on marketing. Given the amount devoted to entertaining
doctors, including funding all-expenses-paid conferences in exotic
locations, it is little wonder that pharmaceutical industry body
Medicines Australia was in the Federal Court last week fighting the
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s order for greater
transparency about these gifts.

Now a Melbourne cancer specialist has alleged that drug company
relationships are compromising medical specialists’ professional
independence. In an affidavit lodged with the court, Dr Ian Haines
detailed offers that included travel to places as varied as New Orleans,
Amsterdam and Valencia. He no longer accepts such offers, describing
them as predominantly marketing exercises.

Dr Haines is to be applauded for having the courage to speak out. His
comments accord with the findings of an Age investigation in August into
the manner in which pharmaceutical companies have attempted to influence
doctors. This latest testimony should increase pressure on the industry
to revise its practices.

In a welcome move, the Australian Medical Association ethics committee
has warned doctors against the public endorsement of drugs. It should
also discourage its members from accepting gifts designed to influence
decisions about prescribing drugs. There is undoubtedly a need for
doctors to be informed about new drugs but there can be no justification
for trying to persuade them by offering what could be considered bribes.